260 barrel length
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The answer to your question depends upon the bullet & Powder combination that you are intending to use. if you run lighter bullets (125 gr and below) you can run faster powder (faster burn rate), and a shorter barrel. If you run 135-140 gr. projectiles you'll most likely run slower powder. The vast majority of bullet / powder combinations do not burn completely (as in 100%) before the muzzle.
Jeffvn
Jeffvn
Was thinking 120ish. I see factory lengths anywhere from 22-26. Was wondering if with a 22" if a person would be loosing any velocity. Reason being if I bought one and I wouldn't loose any vel I would cut it back as far as poasible and put my suppressor on it.
Its on the hot end of the spectrum but not crazy high. At first I was getting around 2780fps when the barrel was 25". I was not happy with a hot load and long slow barrel. I called bugholes and he said shoot it and it will speed up. I thought ok maybe but I didnt want a long slow barrel and hot load. After shooting about 100 rounds through it did speed up about 80-100fps. I had it cut to 22" inches and kept the same load and was getting 2860 (2880 suppressed). I just got different brass and I am going to try 43.2g of h4350 and try to keep it above 2800fps.
Sounds like you found a sweet spot with barrel length vs. powder burn rate! keep us updated if you lose a substantial amount of velocity.
My goal was to run it suppressed for competitions. If I had it to do all over again I would have loaded 43.2g of h4350 and the took the chrono to the range. I would then shoot 2 then cut 1" then shoot 2 and cut 1" until I got close to 2800fps or maybe even 2780. Then I would have it re threaded and work up my new load. That way you are not guessing as much on what the speed will be. 43.2 is a light load.
When I guessed I got luck on the speed in relation to my moderate load of 44.1g. I will work it up lighter with the new brass and try to keep it above 2800-2850 with it running under 43.8g of h4350. Hopefully it'll work. The load of 44.1 will consistently group in the .4 area for 5 rounds. I just don't want a hot load. My load was developed during summer but I want it lighter than it is for brass life and throat life.
I am a believer in Obermeyer tight bore barrels. I have had three and every one has been easy to find a load for and were all in the .3"-.4" for 5 rounds after load development.
When I guessed I got luck on the speed in relation to my moderate load of 44.1g. I will work it up lighter with the new brass and try to keep it above 2800-2850 with it running under 43.8g of h4350. Hopefully it'll work. The load of 44.1 will consistently group in the .4 area for 5 rounds. I just don't want a hot load. My load was developed during summer but I want it lighter than it is for brass life and throat life.
I am a believer in Obermeyer tight bore barrels. I have had three and every one has been easy to find a load for and were all in the .3"-.4" for 5 rounds after load development.
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I would go as short as 21 maybe, depending on you DA. If your only gonna shoot 120's then Id go with a smaller case i.e. creedmore or X47. The .260 is made to rock 140's. My buddy chubbles even shoots 140's from his 21" X47 at 2800+. I have a factory DTA 26" .260, but when it burns up Im gonna redo it around 22-23".
Forgot to mention I get 2930 with 140's out of my 26". But I believe it because of the Barnes MB, because the same load under a Berger is almost 80fps slower.
Personally, I wouldn't go shorter than 24" if I wanted to shoot to 1k. I have a 24" and it runs the 140 Berger VLD's at 2,790 / 2,800 with stellar accuracy. When I ran my 26" rifle ammo through the 24" rifle it lost 120 fps, 60 fps per inch and I lost the accuracy as well. I simply added powder to gain the velocity back, 42.5 in the 26" and 43.5 in the 24". 2,800 to 2,850 fps seems to be the common node for 260's using 139/142 grain bullets. You may be able to get it with a 22" but that's on the short end of the spectrum if you ask me. At the end of the day it boils down to what you're going to do with and what you expect out of the rifle.
I have a suppressed 26" 1-8 260 that shoots extremely well.
It gives great velocity with the 139 Scenar/140 Amax & Hodgdon max load of H1000.
Extra velocity with accuracy can be very helpful when trying to get out past 1000.
It gives great velocity with the 139 Scenar/140 Amax & Hodgdon max load of H1000.
Extra velocity with accuracy can be very helpful when trying to get out past 1000.
I think it varies barrel to barrel. I have seen some slow 26" barrels and some fast 21" barrels. Some are just faster than others. If you can get it to 2800 or over with a shorter barrel why go longer?
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